So, we just got a diagnosis last week after Winston (22 pound rescue poodle mix, probably around 10 years old) suddenly started drinking and urinating a lot. His blood sugar was close to 500 per the lab. Six months ago it was 120, so this is a recent and totally unexpected development.
So far he is on 5 units, once a day, of Vetsulin. Things have been going downhill a bit with the shots. The first one he didn't notice, then he started twitching with them, then he started looking around, then yesterday he sort of vocalized. That's after just 5 days of shots. I hate the idea of these shots every day, and so far it's a two person deal because my husband is in charge of holding and distracting him and giving him a treat afterwards, while I am in charge of the actual shot (in his scruff or shoulder area). After the first shot I thought I was OK, but now that he is reacting (admittedly, just a bit, but still) I am starting to feel uncomfortable too. We'd like to get it so that only one person can do the whole thing, in case one or the other of us is not around. Is there any way to make it not painful? How can just one person do this effectively? I think I am doing it right, but Winston is basically sort of a wimp about needles and so am I.
The other thing that was devastating was that my vet (who has a diabetic dog, himself), told me to expect blinding cataracts, that they were practically inevitable. My question there is, should we get surgery or not when that happens? We can afford it, but it seems pretty traumatic and risky. I should mention that Winston has been mildly epileptic the whole 8 years we've had him, and is on phenobarbital for that (which has nearly eliminated his seizures, only 2 in the past 4 years), so surgery is always kind of extra scary. Being a human, to me eyesight is important. Maybe not so much for dogs, but Winston likes to chase toys and birds and such, and run around freely, and it seems that if he was blind his quality of life would be pretty bad.
In spite of his extensive health issues, he is pretty darn cheerful and energetic at the moment. He will go in for a checkup in 2 days. With the insulin, he has been drinking and urinating less, but still more than normal, I'd say.
So far he is on 5 units, once a day, of Vetsulin. Things have been going downhill a bit with the shots. The first one he didn't notice, then he started twitching with them, then he started looking around, then yesterday he sort of vocalized. That's after just 5 days of shots. I hate the idea of these shots every day, and so far it's a two person deal because my husband is in charge of holding and distracting him and giving him a treat afterwards, while I am in charge of the actual shot (in his scruff or shoulder area). After the first shot I thought I was OK, but now that he is reacting (admittedly, just a bit, but still) I am starting to feel uncomfortable too. We'd like to get it so that only one person can do the whole thing, in case one or the other of us is not around. Is there any way to make it not painful? How can just one person do this effectively? I think I am doing it right, but Winston is basically sort of a wimp about needles and so am I.
The other thing that was devastating was that my vet (who has a diabetic dog, himself), told me to expect blinding cataracts, that they were practically inevitable. My question there is, should we get surgery or not when that happens? We can afford it, but it seems pretty traumatic and risky. I should mention that Winston has been mildly epileptic the whole 8 years we've had him, and is on phenobarbital for that (which has nearly eliminated his seizures, only 2 in the past 4 years), so surgery is always kind of extra scary. Being a human, to me eyesight is important. Maybe not so much for dogs, but Winston likes to chase toys and birds and such, and run around freely, and it seems that if he was blind his quality of life would be pretty bad.
In spite of his extensive health issues, he is pretty darn cheerful and energetic at the moment. He will go in for a checkup in 2 days. With the insulin, he has been drinking and urinating less, but still more than normal, I'd say.
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